Audible Book Review: The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent by Larry Correia

This is a bit zany, but fun!

The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent
By: Larry Correia
Narrated by: Adam Baldwin

Series: The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent
Length: 2 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-24-16
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Original
Categories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary, #SciFiMonth2019
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

About This Audible Original
Have you ever seen a planet invaded by rampaging space mutants from another dimension or Nazi dinosaurs from the future?
Don't let this happen to you!
Rifts happen, so you should be ready when universes collide. A policy with Stranger & Stranger can cover all of your interdimensional insurance needs. Rated "Number One in Customer Satisfaction" for three years running, no claim is too big or too weird for Tom Stranger to handle.
But now Tom faces his greatest challenge yet. Despite being assigned the wrong - and woefully inadequate - intern, Tom must still provide quality customer service to multiple alternate Earths, all while battling tentacle monsters, legions of the damned, an evil call center in Nebraska, and his archnemesis, Jeff Conundrum. Armed with his Combat Wombat and a sense of fair play, can Tom survive? And will Jimmy the Intern ever discover his inner insurance agent?
It's time to kick ass and adjust claims.
Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) performs Larry Correia's madcap interdimensional tale of underwriting and space travel, where the only thing scarier than tentacle monsters is a high deductible.
©2016 Larry Correia (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Tom Stranger is an international insurance agent in a world where there are multiple alternate Earths. The alternate worlds are not supposed to bleed into each other but more and more there seem to be rifts in the divided worlds.

Fortunately for many, Tom is a sincere and successful insurance agent and claim negotiator who has been rated number one in customer service for three years. Sometimes his job is a huge challenge. He has recently requested and been assigned an Intern. He should have gotten a top of the class candidate. Instead, he was sent Jimmy who is an unimpressive wimp who seems afraid even of his own shadow.

Jimmy isn’t prepared to travel in space much less face purple tentacled monsters, a hoard of demons and Tom’s greatest competitor, Jeff Conundrum. Fortunately, Tom is a skilled negotiator with words and sometimes with weapons, especially his trusty Combat Wombat. But Tom’s success has made him a target for Conundrum who figures a perfect bait to lure Tom in. Has Jimmy learned enough watching Tom at work to help rescue Tom from the enemy trap?

The story follows Tom in a busy day of claims and negotiations. I enjoy Correia's Monster Hunter International series and his wild imagination comes forth with zany exuberance in this new series filled with social satire and insurance jokes. Adding to the fun are references to sci-fi series (like Firefly), actors like Adam Baldwin (Chuck in Firefly) and Chuck Norris, and political figures like Barrack Obama and Joe Biden. Even Correia himself has a spot in the adventures. I recommend this to readers looking for a quick break filled with laughter.

Audio Notes: Adam Baldwin delivers a strong performance matching the irreverent material. Baldwin provides some good voice impressions and a couple that completely fail – with humor!
I am glad this was provided as a free Audible Original as I might not have picked it up otherwise. Now I know where to go for a zany listen and I know I can look for other works narrated by Adam Baldwin.

Source: July 2019 Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2019Audiobook and #SciFiMonth goal.

MBS November 2019 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2019 Reading List - NOVEMBER

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2019
Favorite for November: 5 Star Christmas Eve, 1914
Four books 4.5 Stars: Sackett's Land, Bark of Night, Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings, and Scythe.

1. A2019- Audio Book Review: The Journals of Octavia Hollows: Books 1-6 by Stacey Rourke; Kate Angell; Allyson Charles; Genre: Cozy Mysteries, Supernatural Thriller, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
2. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Sackett's Land by Louis L'Amour; Genre: Historical Fiction, Western Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
3. eB2019- Book Review: Reasons to Kill God by I.V. Olokita; Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
4. NG2019-#NetGalley Book Review: Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Traditional Detective; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
5. A2019- Audible Book Review: Christmas Eve, 1914 by Charles Olivier; Genre: Dramatization, Fiction, Historical; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.
6. eTBR- Book Review: The Sheriff's Mistletoe Law by Nita Wick; Genre: Historical, Holiday Romance, Short Story, Western Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
7. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: One Wish by Jodi Thomas; Genre: Historical Romance, Holiday, Novella, Western Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
8. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Evergreen A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor; Genre: Historical, Holiday, Short Story, #HoHoHoRAT; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
   
9. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Christmas Scandal...Not! by Jeanne Savery; Genre: Historical, Holiday, Short Story, #HoHoHoRAT; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0.
10. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr; Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Small Town, #HoHoHoRAT; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
11. ebTBR- Book Review: Ruth's First Christmas Tree by Elly Griffiths; Genre: #HoHoHoRAT, Holiday, Traditional Detective; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0
12. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: The Twelve Cats of Christmas (All the Creatures of Christmas) by Kevin Whitlark; Genre: Cats, Holiday, #HoHoHoRAT; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
13. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Santa's Christmas Eve Blues by Douglas Lindsay; Genre: Holiday, Short Story; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0
14. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings (The Chronicles of St Mary's #6.5) by Jodi Taylor; Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Time Travel, #HoHoHoRAT and #SciFiMonth; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
15. eTBR- Book Review: A Christmas Feral by Mary Matthews; Genre: Cats, Holiday, Short Story, #HoHoHoRAT; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
16. eTBR- Book Review: A Christmas Message From The Moon by Philip Gibson; Genre: History, #HoHoHoRAT, Short Story; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
17. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski; Genre: Anthology Fantasy, Short Stories, Sorcery, #SciFiMonth; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.
18. NG2019-#NetGalley Book Review: Christmas Once Again by D.K. Deters; Genre: Holiday, Romance, Short Story, Time Travel Romance, #HoHoHoRAT and #SciFiMonth; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
19. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman; Genre: Death, Dystopia, Teen & YA, #SciFiMonth; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.
20. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley; Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
21. ATBR- Audible Book Review: An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris; Genre: Alternate History, Historical Fantasy, #SciFiMonth; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
22. eBTBR- Book Review: Civilly Disobedient (Calm Act Genesis Book 1) by Ginger Booth; Genre: Dystopian, Political Fiction, Sci Fi, #SciFiMonth, Short Story; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
23. A2019- Audible Book Review: The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent by Larry Correia; Genre: Fantasy; Sci Fi, #SciFiMonth; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Total read = 23; TBR = 16; New Authors = 16
Audio/Audible = 9 (7 TBRs)
eBook = 9 (9 TBRs)
NetGalley = 4 (0 TBRs)
Print = 0
Review books (other than NG) = 1 (+ 1 audio)

Goal Progress:
Met Goodreads Goal of 150; plus 30
Total Read to Date: 180
TBR to Date: 104 of 100 total
TBR ebooks: 28 of 24
Audio to Date: 100 of 75
NetGalley to Date: 51 of 40
Author Reviews: 8 of 12
Nonfiction: 12 of 12

• ebTBRs: 1 +2 +2 +2 +1 +0 +1 +2 +1 +7 +9
• Author titles: 1 +0 +3 +0 +1 +0 +1 +0 +0 +2
• New to me Series: 5 +5 +8 +10 +8 +9 +9 +7 +8 +7
• Continuing for me Series: 3 +1 +2 +2 +2 +1 +2 +2 +1 +2 +3
• Title with Month in it: 1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +1 +0
• Seasonal title: Winter 1; Spring 2; Summer (on hold);
• Alphabet letters covered: 12 Jan + 3 Feb + 5 March + 2 April + 0 May + 1 June + 1 July + 1 August + 0 September + 0 October + 0 November
(One letter left: X)

Sunday Post December 8, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 9, 2019

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

My office staff enjoyed a fun woman's club Christmas event on Tuesday night - an auction party. We are known for getting the bids started and occasionally bidding against each other by mistake. It makes for a fun time. Then I had a nice woman's club luncheon on Thursday. This week the office will attend three Christmas events and I will attend two more for church. In between, I intend to keep working away at probates and litigation, plus several title closings.

Saturday morning we found some bucks fighting in the back yard.

They were first clashing behind the shed; then moved further into the yard.

Our temperatures have remained cooler this week occasionally reaching the low 70s.
We are trying to prepare ourselves for cold weather when we visit Illinois later this month.

I enjoyed my reading and listening this past week. I finished one audiobook (although I am far into another), one child's book and one NetGalley ebook.   I posted three reviews on the blog and my usual memes.

I visited only 15 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to Lampshade Reader. "Turn on the light; read all night." Aleen says: "Reading by lampshade since the age of 13, all I needed was a good book and a cozy blanket. Not much has changed since then." It sounds like me although I was reading by flashlight at an early age.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post December 1, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 2, 2019.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley; Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris; Genre: Alternate History, Historical Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 6, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 12/12/2019.

• eBTBR- Book Review: Civilly Disobedient (Calm Act Genesis Book 1) by Ginger Booth; Genre: Dystopian, Political Fiction, Sci Fi, Short Story; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement December 8, 2019 Advent Week 2.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Computer (PublPush2019)

Where Are You Moosehead? (Rosie Bears Adventures)
by Andy Stonehouse
This is a cute childrens' book.
Source: Oct-November 2019 Review Request from Publishing Push.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/MPS (AReview2019)

Her Ruthless Protector
by Caitlyn O’Leary
This is good military intrigue with sexy romance.
Source: Audio Download for review through Caffeinated PR Services.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas
by Sarah M. Eden, Anita Stansfield, Esther Hatch, Joanna Barker
This is a wonderful collection!
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Pdf/Computer (eBook)

The Lady Lassoes an Outlaw: Western Historical
by Charlene Raddon
This is a sweet (if weak) western romance.
Source: Review request received from Babs Book Bistro.
Aurora Cavender's twin brother Jason is missing, reportedly kidnapped by a notorious gang of outlaws in Utah. Aurora feels his pain and fear. He's hurt. Determined to help, she travels to Price, Utah to board a stagecoach she's sure the gang will rob. Her hope is to discover a clue to Jason's whereabouts. A dangerous job, but one she's better equipped to deal with than many men.
To run smack into her ex-fiancee, Garret Mosely, is a shock. To learn he's part of the Hell's-Gate gang is unfathomable.
Can Aurora find her brother, free him and get the two of them to safety? And what part will Garret Mosely play in her plans?

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Push Back
The Disruption Series, Book 2
By: R.E. McDermott
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
Release date: 09-12-16
This is a story I don't want to put down.
Source: July 2018 Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
Earth reels in the aftermath of a savage solar storm, a global disaster of unprecedented proportion which leaves most of the world without electrical power or the means to restore it. Across the world, the responses of unprepared national governments are too little, too late. In the US, order collapses and opportunistic forces rise to fill the power vacuum, as what remains of a self-serving federal bureaucracy prioritizes the survival of politicians and bureaucrats over that of the general population.
As chaos and starvation spread, isolated pockets of survivors unite to survive. In Texas, Captain Jordan Hughes and a ragtag group of seamen and ex-Coastguardsmen gather their families close and resist the depredations of a hoard of escaped convicts. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, a similarly determined group of survivors attempts to use salvaged resources, not only to save themselves, but also to feed the hungry.
But not everyone is happy about the efforts of the valiant and resourceful few. Secure in his Camp David compound, a corrupt president consolidates power and builds a mercenary force to deal with any possible challenges to his absolute authority and to seize all dwindling resources for government use and fair distribution.
Survivors of the natural disaster are thus dealt another blow as they're betrayed by the very government established to protect them. Do they knuckle under to a dictator, or do they push back?
©2016 Robert E. McDermott (P)2016 Robert E. McDermott

3. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

Strands of Truth
by Colleen Coble
This looks like a good Christian Romantic Suspense and it has started well.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Suspense, romance, and generational secrets meld in this engrossing new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble.
Strands of Harper Taylor’s childhood are resurfacing—but will the truth save her . . . or pull her under?
Harper Taylor is used to being alone— after all, she grew up in one foster home after another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway teenager, and now Harper pours her marine biology knowledge into Oliver’s pen shell research. But she’s never stopped wishing for a family of her own.
So when a DNA test reveals a half-sister living just two hours away, Harper is both hopeful and nervous. Over warm cinnamon rolls, Harper and Annabelle find striking similarities in their stories. Is it just a coincidence that both their mothers died tragically, without revealing Harper and Annabelle’s father’s name?
Oliver’s son Ridge still sees Harper as a troubled teen even all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked, Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy them all. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future.

December 8, 2019 - I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I finished a four day Light of the World - Advent Devotional study and will be starting another Advent study tonight.

I completed three books and posted three reviews. I have four reviews to do.
My NetGalley shelf is now at 11. I still have one more NG title from July that has released. I will read that one next. [Plus I have 4 old titles (2012-13) which I guess are moving into 2020.]
I still have two author titles that I expect to carry into January 2020.
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received one NetGalley request and two automatic reads I selected (still preparing for 2020TBRs).
I picked up two Audible Settlement titles, two Audible Daily Deals and one title at Chirp.
I guess I had NO free time as I added 0 free kindle titles this week. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.) Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Received from NetGalley:
The New Husband
by D.J. Palmer
"Just because you love someone doesn't mean you know them."
I saw this book at Silver's Review two weeks ago.


The Woman in the Veil
by Laura Joh Rowland
"Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the fourth in her critically acclaimed Victorian mysteries where the case of a mutilated "Sleeping Beauty" washes ashore in London."
I wanted to try a Victorian mystery and this sounds good.

Winter Takes All
by ML Erdahl
"Crystal Rainey is aghast when she realizes her new year's resolutions haven't changed one whit from the previous year."
This sounds like a fun read for the new year.

Won

NONE

Purchased

12/6/2019 Two Audible Free Titles for Settlement:
Vanguard
The Genesis Fleet, Book 1
By: Jack Campbell
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
Release date: 05-16-17

Thunderhead
Arc of a Scythe
By: Neal Shusterman
Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
Release date: 01-09-18


11/30/2019 Audible Daily Deal $3.95:
Polar Vortex
By: Matthew Mather
Narrated by: Tom Taylorson
Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
Release date: 04-02-19


12/7/2019 Chirp $.99
Termination Dust
Written by Alana Terry
Narrated by Becky Doughty
Release Date: May 23, 2019
Publisher: Firstfruits Publishing
Run time: 5 hours and 33 minutes

12/8/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95 - this was on my wish list. :-)

Into the Wild
Warriors, Book 1
By: Erin Hunter
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
Release date: 10-10-17

Free

I added 0 free Kindle titles to my Kindle library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 8, 2019 - Advent Week 2

Our Sunday School teacher shared an interesting prophetic message regarding events that may occur in December 2019 and in 2020. The point was that we need to recognize that we shouldn’t ask whose side God is on, but rather we need to ask ourselves: “Whose side are we on?” We need to be on God’s side.

We enjoyed good praise and worship and our pastor shared a Christmas message on “Preparation”.

The Advent Wreath:

The second candle, also purple, represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

(Also known as the candle of Preparation, Waiting or Prophecy.)

Isaiah 40:3-5:
“A voice of one calling:
‘In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”

Book Review: Civilly Disobedient (Calm Act Genesis Book 1) by Ginger Booth

I liked this short dystopian prequel.
Civilly Disobedient (Calm Act Genesis Book 1)
by Ginger Booth

File Size: 3840 KB
Print Length: 52 pages
Publication Date: August 18, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B01KOXYB2K
Genre: Dystopian, Political Fiction, Sci Fi, Short Story
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The storms before the Calm.
Resourceful programmer Dee Baker is getting worried about climate change. Food prices are skyrocketing, the drought out west deepening, and the storms won’t quit. When her intrusive Fortune 100 media employer forbids her to attend the worsening riots, Dee defies them to visit a rally, and see for herself what they’re trying to hide.
Civilly Disobedient is a short prequel to the Calm Act series.

Review:
Dee Baker, a resourceful programmer with a good job, is annoyed when her employer announces that the staff are forbidden from attending any of the increasingly violent climate protests. Dee already suspects that her media employer is suppressing the truth regarding troubles in their world. She doesn’t always like to toe the line and tends to have a rebellious streak.

Dee decides to sneak into a protest to see what is really going on. She manages to get a seat on a bus loaded with a participating group that has a legal permit for the event. She soon learns that there are many other groups that are attending without permission. The crowd greatly exceeds the numbers that were planned but apparently the police anticipated the overly zealous mob.

Dee finds herself caught up in the moving masses and at risk of being arrested. Can she get out of the mob safely or will she lose her job for this impulsive adventure?

I found this short story to be well written with an engaging character and consistent flow. My attention was quickly engaged and held throughout the adventure. The plot direction isn’t fully clear for the rest of the series but I enjoyed this prequel enough to want to know where the story will go. Readers who enjoy the dystopian genre may wish to try this out.

Source: 2016 Free Kindle. This qualifies for 2019TBR and #SciFiMonth 2019 goals.